The nice thing about moving from the frigid Midwest to the South is that you can gloat to all your family and friends back home about the weather when fall starts. "Oh, it snowed there today? That's nice. It's 70 here." (Yes, I am a terrible person.) But a week or two ago, when I saw people posting pictures of the first snow of the year on Facebook, I felt a little bit jealous. Could it really be? Do I miss snow?!
The last winter we spent in Wisconsin, I pretty much had a mental break over the weather. I worked on the University of Wisconsin campus and I took the bus to work, which meant that I had to walk several blocks to my building everyday in the wee early hours of the morning. And those wee early hours were cold! The wind and the snow and the sub-zero temperatures would make my face ache and by the time I got to the office, my toes would always be numb no matter how many pairs of socks I layered on. I was done! Done with winter!
But now I feel a little nostalgic for it. Maybe not for the cold weather itself, but for looking out the window and watching the snow fall. And for that feeling of relief that hits you when you enter a warm building after being out in the cold. And for hot stews and curries on cold winter nights! On the worst of the winter days, I'd get home from work, put on my pajamas, and throw together a quick pot of soup or curry. I guess it's that cozy, bundled up feeling that I miss. So I tried to remedy that with this Cauliflower and Chickpea Coconut Curry.
This is one of those recipes that I never needed a recipe for. Sometimes I'd make it with chickpeas only, other times I'd put different vegetables in it. It's easy like that. It's not a spicy curry and the creamy coconut sauce makes it perfect for serving over rice or with a side of naan. This curry is a heaping pot of winter comfort food—even if your winters involve sunny 60 degree days.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 large onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1- inch ginger peeled and minced
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 2 15-ounce cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed (or 3 cups cooked chickpeas)
- 2 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
- 1 14-ounce can coconut milk
- 1 medium head cauliflower broken into florets
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- Cooked rice or naan for serving
Instructions
- Heat the coconut oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger and cook until softened, 5-7 minutes. Stir in the spices and cook until they're fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, coconut milk, and cauliflower. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Uncover and cook 5 minutes more, or until sauce has thickened slightly. Season with salt and pepper to taste and garnish each serving with cilantro.
Caitlin says
i think i get less and less tolerant of the cold every year. i just can't handle it! i love this curry. it looks simple enough to throw together on a work night, which is what i'm all about. plus, cauliflower and chickpeas are always a win in my book.
Kiersten says
Yeah, there was a time when I looooved winter, but definitely as I got older, I got less enthusiastic about it.
Merri Live Local Greens says
This looks delicious, and so easy! All of my curries seem to end up tasting the same, so I'll have to give this one a go. It's cold here in London so a warming curry is much needed!
Kiersten says
I hope you like it! 🙂
Kalyn says
You're welcome to come and visit me in Utah if you really get a hankering for snow. And I live halfway up a mountain, so there is plenty of it. I confess I hate the snow, but now that I work at home it's not so bad.
Love the sound of this. Three of my favorite flavors combined!
Kiersten says
Yes, I think I would appreciate Wisconsin winters a lot more now that I work from home. I saw your snow posts on Facebook and I was feeling a little jealous!
Martina @ snapshotsandwhatnots says
I know what you mean, Ireland doesn't usually get cold cold, like blocked into your house because of snow cold but it does freeze and get pretty miserable for a few months - it's also dark at 3.30pm too but here in SC it was 80 something degrees on Monday - that's crazy....that's better than Irish summer time. It makes it not feel like winter/christmas approaching time at all
Kiersten says
Yeah, I think that's why the holidays have been creeping up on me these past few years--it's because it doesn't feel like winter!
Marta @ What Should I eat for breakfast today says
We did a similar thing, we moved for few months to Barcelona to avoid winter. It will be hard to move back to Berlin in January, just in a middle of winter...
Kiersten says
Is that why you moved to Barcelona?! That sounds like a good reason to move there. 🙂
Deb Oswald says
So our forecast for opening of deer hunting season is 14 for a high and below zero wind chills....... ugh.
thanks for the great looking curry recipe. I had a cauli based Nepalese dish at a cool Nepalese restaurant off State street this past summer, SO GOOD!!! Sigh, I love Madison. Anyway, enjoy your weather, and are you sure you don't want to visit?? 🙂 Almost the whole state got snow last night. Lol
Kiersten says
It's really already 14 degrees out up there?! Okay, I take back everything I said about missing it. 😉 I guess I miss the SNOW, not the cold. Oh, and I love that Nepalese restaurant. Madison has so many great places to eat!
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan says
You can come look out my Wisconsin window anytime girlfriend! I hate the cold, but can get over it when I realize how glorious summer feels. Also, jealous of your warm weather!!
Kiersten says
Yeah, the cold weather helps you appreciate the warmer weather that much more! 🙂
Tracy says
I moved from Nebraska to Northern (almost Canada) Washington almost 4 years ago, so I understand. We had two seasons in the Midwest - Hot & Cold. Do I miss it? No. Not really. Maybe the heat after the 103rd day of cloudy skies. I very much love the fact I don't have to scoop rain though 🙂 I am lucky that the weather here is so mild that curries and chilies work practically any day of the year. I'll be making this one tonight. Yay! Dinner solved!
Kiersten says
Yes, I always felt like Wisconsin didn't have seasons--fall and spring seemed to last a week! My husband always says he'd like to move to the Pacific Northwest, but I don't think I could deal with the dreariness. The temperate weather would be nice though!
Mallory @ Because I Like Chocolate says
All I know is that I would miss snow terribly. I don't think my wintery Canadian heart could take it!
Kiersten says
I never thought I would miss snow, but I kind of do. 🙂 It's so pretty!
Grace @ Earthy Feast says
Southern snow is the best kind! I'm sure we will get some this year - even if it's just for a day or so. I love how people freak out and rush to the store to buy milk and bread, school is canceled and work is closed - so fun! This dish looks absolutely perfect for a cold day - with or without snow. 😉
Kiersten says
I think we only got one snow storm here in Raleigh last year. Maaaaybe two. But the one, I swear, it was not even an inch of snow and I had two appointments that day and both were cancelled because everything was shutting down. Craziness!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
We are supposed to get our first snow here in Omaha today...I am actually slightly excited about it! 😉
Kiersten says
I am jealous! Send some snow this way. 🙂
JulieD says
I do that gloating year-round but then it comes back to bite me when I'm complaining about how hot it is in the summer! 🙂 This looks amazing...I love coconut curry!!
Kiersten says
Ha! Me too. Although in the midwest, the summers get pretty hot and humid too!
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
i lived in ID and IL before moving to TX, I was so sick of snow I hardly miss it except on Christmas morning. I am really hoping it will snow again on x-mas morning this year too. love love love curry with cauliflower and chickpeas.
Kiersten says
I'm originally from Illinois! I grew up in Mt. Prospect, outside of Chicago. 🙂 It is kind of weird having Christmas with warm weather...
Katy says
Love this easy meal, pinned! I live in a very wintery city and I don't think I would miss the weather if I left. It's soooo cold!
Kiersten says
I don't think I'll ever miss the 6 month long winters (well, they seemed that long at least!), but I would like at least a week with more than a dusting of snow. 🙂
Robyn B | Modern Day Missus says
Yum - that combo of cauliflower, chickpeas and coconut seems like such a good match!
Alexis @ Hummusapien says
This is calling my name!! Anything with coconut milk and cauliflower is okay in my book 🙂
Joanne says
I'm fine with snow...so long that I can stay inside with the heat on and look at it and not have to go out in it ever. Preferably with curry. Mmm.
Kiersten says
Yes, snow is absolutely fine if I'm inside! 🙂
Natalie @ Once Upon a Cutting Board says
As much as I complain about the cold and never-ending winters here, I know I'd miss winter if I moved somewhere south and barely got to experience it. A perfect compromise would be just a couple months of winter, not November to May like we had last year! There's nothing better than coming home to warm comfort food on a cold day though and this fits the bill perfectly!
Kiersten says
Yeah, at the end of winter, I would always get SO desperate for a little sunshine. I remember one year, I had my final exams at the end of April and missed one of them because we got a freak snowstorm with several feet of snow and the buses stopped running. That is just wrong!
dishing up the dirt says
I'd do anything to move away from a state that has loooong winters. I'll take snow every once in a while, but I'm a 70 degrees and always sunny kind of girl. This curry has my name written on it!
Kiersten says
Yes! I want to live somewhere that's 70 degrees year-round too! Where is this magical place?!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Snowing is fine with me, it's nice if you can stay in the house with a cup of hot chocolate in hand or a glass of Gluewein :-)) what I really dislike is the cold rainy weather.
Your chickpea curry looks warming and tasty!
Kiersten says
Yes, cold rainy weather is depressing for sure!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I love curry, this looks like the ultimate comfort!
Genevieve says
Every year once the really cold weather hits (and doesn't go away for sooo long), I think to myself that I'm just not cut out for this climate (or that I'm not meant to be a Canadian) and I need to move somewhere warmer..but I bet I would miss the winter too! This is exactly the kind of warm comforting meal I've been craving lately, and I love Indian spiced dishes that aren't too rich and heavy, so this sounds perfect!
Kiersten says
I always used to say the same thing--"I was not supposed to be born in the Midwest!"
Becca says
Wow, your photos are beautiful! This curry is right up my alley. *licks lips*
Kiersten says
Thank you!
Ines says
Hi Kiersten,
I made this today and it actually was the first curry I made and which I liked!
The ones before sometimes tasted like they should have been dessert and some, which I made with my old curry spice mix, were gross, because of the spice mix.
I recently received some real Indian spices from India as a gift and this was perfect for trying them out 🙂
What I am wondering: If you eat it with naan, do you make the naan yourself? Do you have a good recipe at hand?
Kiersten says
Thank you for your feedback--I'm so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 Unfortunately no, I don't have my own naan recipe. I buy it at my local grocery store!
Brenda Williams says
Ice falling this morning in Weatherford, OK and snow is suppose to be on the way. This recipe sounds so good!
Kiersten says
I think snow is definitely preferable to ice! Maybe you will have a white Thanksgiving. 🙂